Blocks before borrowing
Before kids write a single regrouping problem, have them solve it with printable base ten blocks. For 52 minus 17, they must break a rod into ten ones to take away 7. When they see the trade, the written steps finally make sense.
Why it works: kids understand an idea best when they touch it, then draw it, then write it, the order the U.S. Department of Education recommends for elementary math.
Try it withPrintable Base 10 BlocksActivitiesOpen it →














